Abstract A continuous reaction is effected in a gas stream by an electric discharge at a point in the stream where the flow has been made supersonic and the pressure and temperature lowered by a substantially adiabatic expansion. Various forms of apparatus for carrying out such a process are described. The apparatus may be used for the production of ozone which is used to convert ethylene and tetramethyl-ethylene fed into the apparatus into the corresponding ozonides. On leaving the apparatus the ozonides are converted in the presence of water into formaldehyde and acetone respectively.ALSO:A continuous reaction is effected in a gas stream by an electric discharge at a point in the stream where the flow has been made supersonic and the pressure and temperature lowered by a substantially adiabatic expansion. One form of apparatus, Fig. 1, comprises a supersonic nozzle 1, a pressure reducing chamber 17 for starting the action of the nozzle and a recompression chamber 13. Gas from an inlet pipe 6 passes along a cylindrical chamber 5 to a convergent part 2 of the nozzle 1 and then expands in a divergent part 4. A hollow electrode 8 supported by insulators 9 and 10 in the chamber 5 produces a discharge at the outlet 7 of the nozzle 1. The recompression chamber 13 comprises a convergent part 14, a cylindrical part 15 and a divergent part 16. This apparatus may be used for the production of acetylene and hydrogen from methane gas, or for the cracking of other hydrocarbons. An alternative form of apparatus is described in which the electrode 8 is extended to the part 16 of the chamber 13 and is closed at the end, but is provided with side vents for the injection of methane into the part 15 of the chamber 13. Two discharges are set up, the first at the end of the nozzle 1 for producing ozone, and the second in the chamber 13 for partially oxidizing the methane. <PICT:0987902/C4-C5/1>
A METHOD OF PERFORMING A CONTINUOUS REACTION IN A GASEOUS MEDIUM WHICH COMPRISES: (A) CAUSING SAID GASEOUS MEDIUM TO FLOW IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION AT SUPERSONIC SPEED; (B) SUBSTANTIALLY ADIABATICALLY EXPANDING SAID FLOWING GASEOUS MEDIUM TO A MINIMUM PRESSURE, WHEREBY THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID MEDIUM IS REDUCED; (C) SELECTIVELY PASSING AN ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TRANSVERSELY OF SAID DIRECTION THROUGH SAID FLOWING EXPANDED GASEOUS MEDIUM WHILE AT SAID REDUCED TEMPERATURE AND AT SAID MINIMUM PRESSURE; AND (D) REDUCING THE SPEED OF FLOW THEREOF FROM SAID SUPERSONIC SPEED TO A SUBSONIC SPEED WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING THE PRESSURE OF SAID MEDIUM FROM SAID MINIMUM PRESSURE THEREOF.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A METHOD OF PERFORMING A CONTINUOUS REACTION IN A GASEOUS MEDIUM WHICH COMPRISES: (A) CAUSING SAID GASEOUS MEDIUM TO FLOW IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION AT SUPERSONIC SPEED; (B) SUBSTANTIALLY ADIABATICALLY EXPANDING SAID FLOWING GASEOUS MEDIUM TO A MINIMUM PRESSURE, WHEREBY THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID MEDIUM IS REDUCED; (C) SELECTIVELY PASSING AN ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TRANSVERSELY OF SAID DIRECTION THROUGH SAID FLOWING EXPANDED GASEOUS MEDIUM WHILE AT SAID REDUCED TEMPERATURE AND AT SAID MINIMUM PRESSURE; AND (D) REDUCING THE SPEED OF FLOW THEREOF FROM SAID SUPERSONIC SPEED TO A SUBSONIC SPEED WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING THE PRESSURE OF SAID MEDIUM FROM SAID MINIMUM PRESSURE THEREOF.